Rifle-target.



W. SOMMERFELD.

RIFLE TARGET APPLICATION mm MAV 22. 19m

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

UI I TWE.

WILLIAM SOMMERFJELJD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SEARS, ROEBUCK AND COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RIFLE-TARGET.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM SOMMER- FELD, a citizen of United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Rifle-Targets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rifle targets of the class in which the target is arranged to move under the impact ofthe bullet.

The object of the invention is to produce a target of the class specified in which the target shall be self-restoring, which shall be simple and inexpensive to manufacture and not liable to derangement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rifle target embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the target. Fig. 3 is an edge elevation, on a scale which is approximately full size, looking from the righthand side of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of dotted line H of Fig. 2.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a rectangular frame 1 which may be out from a piece of sheet-metal, said frame comprising a top bar 2, side bars 3 and 4, and a bottom bar 5. The bar 5 constitutes a base or attaching portion by means of which the frame may be fastened in upright position to any suitable support, 6 being apertures to receive screws or nails.

Within the frame is rotatably mounted a target device comprising two targets'proper 7 and 8. These targets may be representations of animals or other objects. For the sake of brevity, the term object will be herein used to denote any suitable or desired form, image or efligy. The objects 7 and 8 are connected by means of arms 9 to a pivot 10. Preferably the objects 7 and 8, the arms 9 and the pivot 10 are punched from a piece of sheet-metal, the objects 7 and 8 being diametrically opposite each other. The ends of the pivot 10 are reduced in size to fit rotatably within bearing openings formed in two lugs 11 and 12, said lugs extending rearwardly from the side bars 3 and 4.

The objects 7 and 8 normally occupy a vertical plane. To yieldingly hold the objects in this position, I provide a leaf spring 13 which is secured at 14: to the rear side of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 22, 1915. Serial No. 29,717.

Patented Dec. W, 1915.

the frame 1, the free end of said spring bearing agalnst one side of the pivot 10.

In order to prevent the objects from rotating through more than a half revolution when struck by a rifle bullet, there may be provided a stop consisting of an arm 15 which .is pivoted at 16, said arm normally lying behind the bottom bar 5 of the frame 1. On the free end of the arm 15 is an angular lug 17 arranged to overlie the upper edge of the bottom bar 5 and thus limit the downward movement of the arm 15. To raise the arm 15 into the path of the object which has been struck by the bullet, I provide an arm 18 which is rigid with the arm 15, said arm having an inclined or cam portion 19 which normally lies in the path of a portion of the objects.

In practice, the parts normally are in the position shown in Fig. 1. When the object 7 is struck by a bullet, the objects 7 and 8 are caused to turn through a half revolu tion against the tension of the spring 13. As the object 7 is completing a half revolution a portion of said object strikes the cam portion 19 and moves said portion aside, thereby raising the free end of the arm 15 into the path of movement of the object. The object 7 is thereby prevented from revolving further through momentum. When the ob ect 7 has passed the portion 19 and has come to rest, gravity restores the arm 15 to its normal position. The arm 15 thus constitutes a stop which is automatically moved into position to arrest the object 7, and is automatically withdrawn after it has performed its function, in order that it shall not interfere with the movement of said object when the object 8 is struck.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rifle target comprising a flat sheet metal frame, two pivot lugs on said frame, a pivot carried by said lugs, two diametrically opposite objects carried by said pivot, said pivot and objects being formed from an integral piece of sheet metal, a spring on the rear side of said frame, said spring bearing against said pivot and serving to yieldingly hold the objects in normal position, a stop pivoted on the rear side of said frame, and an arm connected to said stop, said arm having a cam portion arranged to be engaged by an object to move said stop into the path of movement of the object.

2. A rifle target comprising a support, a pivot carried by said support, two diametrically opposite objects carried by said pivot, a spring on the rear side of said support, said spring bearing against said pivot and serving to yieldingly hold the objects in normal position, a stop pivoted on the rear side-of said support, and an arm connected to said stop, said arm having a cam portion arranged to be engaged by an object to move said stop into the path of movement of the object.

3. A rifle target comprising a pivot, means for supporting the pivot, two diametrically opposite objects carried by the pivot, a stop to prevent the objects from rotating through more than a half revolution, and a member operated by the objects for actuating said sto 4 A rifle target comprising a support, a pivot and two diametrically-opposite obj ects formed from an integral piece of sheetmetal, said support having bearings in which said pivot is rotatable through 360, said support being shaped to permit said objects to revolve therein, and means for yieldingly holding the objects in normal position.

5. A rifle target comprising a pivot, means for supporting the pivot, two diametrically opposite objects carried by the pivot, and a stop to prevent the objects from rotating through more than a half revolution, said stop being automatically movable into and out of operative position.

6. A rifle target comprising a flat sheet metal frame, two pivot lugs on said frame, a pivot carried by said lugs, two diametrically opposite objects carried by said pivot, said pivot and objects being formed from an integral piece of sheet metal, and a spring on the rear side of said frame, said spring bearing against said pivot and serving to yieldingly hold the objects in normal position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SOMMERFELD.

In the presence of JOHN HIGGINS, J. Y. SIMON. 

